LinkedIn continues to evolve beyond job posts and thought leadership – it’s becoming a serious channel for influencer marketing.
With the right strategy, brands can build trust, boost reach, and drive real results—while staying compliant and authentic.
Here’s what you need to know to make the most of LinkedIn’s growing influencer ecosystem:
- “LinkedIn Influencer” Is a Real and Valuable Role
Yes, LinkedIn influencers are now a thing. These creators often have large, highly engaged followings in niche industries—making them perfect partners for branded content on LinkedIn. But don’t chase follower count alone. Focus on creators who align with your brand’s message and already have credibility with your audience.
If you’re already working with a creator on another platform, consider amplifying their reach on LinkedIn with a paid post strategy. - Healthcare Influencer Marketing Is Coming to LinkedIn
For those in the healthcare industry, take note: patient advocates and HCP (healthcare professional) influencers are starting to appear in LinkedIn sponsored posts. In the last three months I’ve helped pharmaceutical brands leverage thought leaders on LinkedIn for both branded and unbranded posts.
This emerging trend is worth watching, especially for brands in pharma, medtech, or healthcare services. LinkedIn’s professional tone makes it a promising space for thoughtful, regulated advocacy. - LinkedIn’s Paid Partnership Label Is Live—But Not FTC-Compliant on Its Own
LinkedIn now offers a paid partnership label for creators and brands to disclose sponsored content. It’s a helpful tool, and required by LinkedIn for paid partnerships, but don’t rely on it alone.
To stay compliant with FTC guidelines for influencer marketing, posts must be “clear and conspicuous,” meaning they should be easily noticeable and understandable to consumers. The LinkedIn brand partnership disclosure is in the post header and can be easily missed.
So, it’s important to also use the disclosure word “Sponsored” or “Ad” at the beginning of the post text. - Brands Can Boost Posts—Even From Non-Employees
One of LinkedIn’s most powerful updates is that brands can now amplify influencer content from users who aren’t employees as paid ads. This means you can promote customer testimonials, creator collaborations, or industry thought leader content directly into your audience’s feed, opening up major opportunities for influencer marketing.
The authors must agree to their post being boosted through the platform in order for boosting to take place. If someone is being paid to create the content as an influencer, then it’s important to also follow the rules in #3 above to ensure alignment and compliance.
Reach out to me to learn more about using LinkedIn for thought leadership + influencers.
